"The deployment of Patriot missiles has nothing to do with the defense of Turkey against a Syrian threat as claimed by AKP. The Patriots along with the radar station in Kürecik are part of a bigger offensive infrastructure which will ultimately be used against Iran to render it defenseless against Israel."
Aydemir Güler (TKP, also coordinator of Peace Association, Turkey)
more from his speech in Ankara this weekend:
“IF THE PARLIAMENT STAYS SILENT, WE WILL DO THE TALKING” On January 10th, the Communist Party of Turkey, TKP, launched a new action against NATO intervention in Syria. Called “Stand Guard against the Patriots”, this is a campaign to collect signatures against the deployment of Patriot missiles in Turkey by NATO. The campaign is held in a tent in Guvenpark, a park in downtown Ankara, where members of TKP will also be on symbolic guard duty night and day until January 20th against NATO and its. The campaign has been very useful in providing information about the real agenda behind the deployment of Patriot missiles as part of the imperialist plans in the region in conjunction with the warmongering AKP policies.
The people of Ankara have shown great interest in the campaign, displaying wholehearted support for it. On January 13th, members of TKP from all over Turkey gathered in Ankara for a march in solidarity with the campaign. Attended by over a thousand people, the march was blocked by the police as the crowd approached Güvenpark, the site of the petition campaign. The police, i.e. the armed forces of AKP government, told the crowd that they would not allow the march to proceed into the park. When the protestors declined to back off and attempted to continue the march, the police intervened violently with tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd, wounding five TKP members and even beating random passersby in the process. Despite the police violence, the protestors succeeded in breaking through the police barricade to continue their march and reached the campaign tent.
Addressing the large crowd, TKP Central Committee Member Aydemir Güler said: “The police must have forgotten who we are, who the communists and the patriots of this country are. We are not to be told ‘Stop here , walk there’. Members of TKP are not keen on tear gas but if needed , as we have done today, we will push through and move on. They think patriotism is the Constitution they have been trampling on. TKP will teach them once again what patriotism is about. If the parliament stays silent, we will do the talking. The deployment of Patriot missiles in this country is illegal. The claim that Syria is a threat against Turkey is nothing but a huge lie. The truth is that there is an attempt to subjugate the people of Turkey and to turn them mercenaries for NATO and USA. You can choke us by tear gas but how will you manage to choke the conscience of Turkey?” The crowd responded to Güler’s speech by Interrupted by cheering the slogan “This country and its people are not for sale!” Continuing his speech, Güler noted: “If foreign soliders are to lay foot in Turkey, the parliament has to discuss this. If it doesn’t, we will and you can not silence us.” On January 7th, The Communist Party of Turkey sent a letter to the members of the Parliament of Turkey, pointing to the fact that the deployment of the Patriot missiles and NATO troops in Turkey is unconstitutional and AKP goverment is guilty of violating the constitution. According to the 92nd article of the Constitution, only the Parliament can grant permit for the deployment of foreign troops in Turkey. Completely bypassing the parliament and with a unilateral decision to let NATO deploy its Patriot missiles and its soliders, AKP government has made a total mockery of the so-called parliamentary democracy in Turkey. The deployment of Patriot missiles has nothing to do with the defense of Turkey against a Syrian threat as claimed by AKP. The Patriots along with the radar station in Kürecik are part of a bigger offensive infrastructure which will ultimately be used against Iran to render it defenseless against Israel. By supporting the Free Syrian Army since the start of the crisis and provoking war with Syria more than once, AKP has in fact been the aggressive party, acting as a warmonger in the region in accordance with the policies of the US imperialism. In total contrast to the interests of US imperialism or its representative in Turkey, AKP, the interests of the people of Turkey dictate that the Patriot missiles and the foreign troops should immediately be sent back to where they came from. If the Turkish parliament is anything more than a notary of NATO, it has to discuss NATO. If not, the institutional authority of the parliament will be up for discussion. We are now asking once again, with the people of Turkey as witness. Members of the Parliament of Turkey, what will you do? How will you respond to our letter? Patriot missiles are on their way to Turkey. Will you stop this warmongering? Will you take charge and say “The authority belongs to the Parliament”. SEND THE PATRIOTS and THE FOREIGN TROOPS BACK!
Aydemir Güler (TKP, also coordinator of Peace Association, Turkey)
more from his speech in Ankara this weekend:
“IF THE PARLIAMENT STAYS SILENT, WE WILL DO THE TALKING” On January 10th, the Communist Party of Turkey, TKP, launched a new action against NATO intervention in Syria. Called “Stand Guard against the Patriots”, this is a campaign to collect signatures against the deployment of Patriot missiles in Turkey by NATO. The campaign is held in a tent in Guvenpark, a park in downtown Ankara, where members of TKP will also be on symbolic guard duty night and day until January 20th against NATO and its. The campaign has been very useful in providing information about the real agenda behind the deployment of Patriot missiles as part of the imperialist plans in the region in conjunction with the warmongering AKP policies.
The people of Ankara have shown great interest in the campaign, displaying wholehearted support for it. On January 13th, members of TKP from all over Turkey gathered in Ankara for a march in solidarity with the campaign. Attended by over a thousand people, the march was blocked by the police as the crowd approached Güvenpark, the site of the petition campaign. The police, i.e. the armed forces of AKP government, told the crowd that they would not allow the march to proceed into the park. When the protestors declined to back off and attempted to continue the march, the police intervened violently with tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd, wounding five TKP members and even beating random passersby in the process. Despite the police violence, the protestors succeeded in breaking through the police barricade to continue their march and reached the campaign tent.
Addressing the large crowd, TKP Central Committee Member Aydemir Güler said: “The police must have forgotten who we are, who the communists and the patriots of this country are. We are not to be told ‘Stop here , walk there’. Members of TKP are not keen on tear gas but if needed , as we have done today, we will push through and move on. They think patriotism is the Constitution they have been trampling on. TKP will teach them once again what patriotism is about. If the parliament stays silent, we will do the talking. The deployment of Patriot missiles in this country is illegal. The claim that Syria is a threat against Turkey is nothing but a huge lie. The truth is that there is an attempt to subjugate the people of Turkey and to turn them mercenaries for NATO and USA. You can choke us by tear gas but how will you manage to choke the conscience of Turkey?” The crowd responded to Güler’s speech by Interrupted by cheering the slogan “This country and its people are not for sale!” Continuing his speech, Güler noted: “If foreign soliders are to lay foot in Turkey, the parliament has to discuss this. If it doesn’t, we will and you can not silence us.” On January 7th, The Communist Party of Turkey sent a letter to the members of the Parliament of Turkey, pointing to the fact that the deployment of the Patriot missiles and NATO troops in Turkey is unconstitutional and AKP goverment is guilty of violating the constitution. According to the 92nd article of the Constitution, only the Parliament can grant permit for the deployment of foreign troops in Turkey. Completely bypassing the parliament and with a unilateral decision to let NATO deploy its Patriot missiles and its soliders, AKP government has made a total mockery of the so-called parliamentary democracy in Turkey. The deployment of Patriot missiles has nothing to do with the defense of Turkey against a Syrian threat as claimed by AKP. The Patriots along with the radar station in Kürecik are part of a bigger offensive infrastructure which will ultimately be used against Iran to render it defenseless against Israel. By supporting the Free Syrian Army since the start of the crisis and provoking war with Syria more than once, AKP has in fact been the aggressive party, acting as a warmonger in the region in accordance with the policies of the US imperialism. In total contrast to the interests of US imperialism or its representative in Turkey, AKP, the interests of the people of Turkey dictate that the Patriot missiles and the foreign troops should immediately be sent back to where they came from. If the Turkish parliament is anything more than a notary of NATO, it has to discuss NATO. If not, the institutional authority of the parliament will be up for discussion. We are now asking once again, with the people of Turkey as witness. Members of the Parliament of Turkey, what will you do? How will you respond to our letter? Patriot missiles are on their way to Turkey. Will you stop this warmongering? Will you take charge and say “The authority belongs to the Parliament”. SEND THE PATRIOTS and THE FOREIGN TROOPS BACK!
